Bailey talks about the shooting (including audio)

Stedman Bailey speaks about shooting for first time

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/26060/stedman-bailey-speaks-about-shooting-for-first-time

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey has offered regular updates on his recovery after being shot in the head twice in November. Those updates have included photos and video of him jogging around the hospital and working out as well as news about when he was released from the hospital.

On Saturday, Bailey spoke briefly about the shooting to a Miami-area television station. It’s believed to be the first time Bailey has actually discussed the events of Nov. 24 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Speaking to WSVN-7 News in Miami, Bailey recounted the experience of taking two shots to the head.

“I do really think about how that split second, for me and my cousin both, how our life has changed,” Bailey told the station. “It’s something we will remember for the rest of the time we live.”

Bailey’s cousin, Antwan Reeves, also spoke for the first time and said he was shot in the back 11 times as he attempted to protect the two small children that were also in the car.

As the shooting happened, Bailey said he didn’t really know the extent of his own injuries until Reeves alerted him.

“At the time, my cousin looked at me and said, ‘Yo, cuz, they shot you in the head,'” Bailey said. “And for a while, I couldn’t really feel any pain or anything, so I was just like, ‘Oh, man.’ When I looked down at my shirt and saw that blood was dripping off my face, I felt at that point that things were pretty real.”

Reeves was able to drive he and Bailey to the hospital where Reeves went into surgery immediately. Bailey had to wait until the following day before undergoing an operation that lasted six-plus hours. Reeves was released from the hospital later that week but Bailey had a longer recovery to make.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher showed Bailey’s Rams teammates photos of Bailey signing his name only days after the shooting and followed with updates on Bailey starting to walk again. In the weeks that followed, Bailey used social media to thank his fans and teammates for their support. Bailey talked to the Rams via FaceTime before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a group of his teammates visited him in Miami a few days later.

Bailey was released from the hospital on Dec. 23 and has since offered further updates on his progress, including frequent visits to the gym.

It remains to be seen if Bailey will play in the NFL again. Fisher has said there’s a chance it won’t happen but also cautioned that Bailey could surprise some people.

In the meantime, Bailey and Reeves told the TV station that they are hoping to help stop gun violence and hope to use their story to make that happen. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.